24 October 2020
Rachel and I met through an ad I placed on Facebook! She had begun feeling all the tensions of planning a wedding as the COVID-19 pandemic had just become a "thing" and added to the stresses. She and Sean had everything lined up for a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Yanney Park's Cope Amphitheater. But, iffy autumn weather here in Nebraska got the better of us (not the virus actually!) when the forecast dropped rather suddenly to a high of mid-30s .... 🥶❄
It was during our our final walk-through with Morgan at The Village, the Tuesday before the wedding, that Rachel (nervous for our responses) piped up, "What do you guys think about moving everything {here}.... indoors?!"
With the guest list already significantly cut down due to COVID-19 restrictions, The Village more than accommodated for our change in ceremony venue considering the reception was already to be held there. Moving everything indoors proved to be not only a warm relief for all, but a piece of cake!!! The center stage for the reception area's head table doubled as the ceremony backdrop. The dance floor doubled as the guest's seating area for the ceremony. And, the dinner tables got to stay put in their already allotted spaces near the bar and kitchen! It couldn't have worked out more perfectly.
The girls had their primping done at Belle Cheri Salon downtown on The Bricks just a few blocks north of The Village. Then, they all got dressed and finished up in The Village's awesome Bridal Suite Loft!
The wedding party, followed by Rachel, and her dear friend (and groomsman) walked down the aisle from that upstairs Bridal Suite, past the set dining tables and into the ceremony.
Afterwards, the guests' seats were recycled back to the dining tables for a cocktail hour and brisket buffet while the wedding party boarded the "epic" party bus!
Since the wedding was the weekend before Halloween, Rachel wanted to keeps things dark but tastefully timeless with loads of black details🖤 and, of course, pumpkins around every corner 🎃. Each of her 8 bridesmaids selected their own style of black, sleeveless, floor-length sheath dresses, shoes and accessories.
The men sported classy, all black tuxes rented from The Bridal Collection.
(You can't tell at all, but these pics taken at Cottonmill Park were done in that frigid cold I told you about!)
Rachel's boho-inspired dress from Dora Grace Bridal (Ft. Collins, CO) was simply chic with it's feminine Azteca lace bodice and full, layered, champagne chiffon skirt with sweep train. It was sooo soft and dreamy! (I don't care how cliché that sounds 🥰😆) Rather than wear a veil, she pulled her hair back with a gold and pearl-studded comb. And for a few more sparkles, she added matching gold/pearl earrings and bracelet. Keeping comfort high on the list of importance, she sported a bright, new pair of sneakers! So her--stunning!
A friend of Rachel's, Megan Axmann, of Divas Floral Shop arranged deep purpley-maroon scabiosas, burgundy "Heart" roses, red Sunset Safari leucadendrons with plenty of black foliage (agonis, silver dollar eucalyptus and orange beech leaves) and just a few pops of peach ranunculus to create a stunning bouquet perfect for a fall bride.
The bridesmaids' and flower girls' {mini} arrangements stayed a little on the darker side leaving the colorful tones for Rachel's bouquet to really stand out from all the others!
For the men, a creamy, off-white rose with some dark, fall foliage did the trick!
Sean's mom, Cathie, crafted and built many of the wooden decorative elements for the wedding including (but not limited to): welcome signs, wooden floral boxes for the table centerpieces as well as both the ceremony and reception backdrops! Rachel purchased several boxes of artificial flowers/foliage from amazon.com and handmade the floral swag herself!
Talk about a talented family! 😍
The couple's friend, Dexter, married them with a short and sweet message, followed by a wine-mixing unity ceremony where Rachel's favorite white wine was added to Sean's preferred red.
After the wedding party boarded their Party Bus, the ceremony space transformed into the head table and dance floor areas.
The Village set the tables with black linens and silvery lined disposable dinnerware. Rachel purchased about 75 (give or take) pumpkins that I then lined every dinner table with in between Cathie's wooden light boxes, flowers and faux fall leaves. Rachel also purchased some handmade (with straws and wire), gold geometrics to add to a few other guest tables!
The guests sipped on custom cocktails including the "Old Phil'shioned" and the "Rasche-ional Bride" (named in honor of Sean and Rachel's cat, Phil, and, of course, Rachel Asche herself)!
A brisket and chicken buffet was catered and served by Good Life on the Bricks, with an assortment of cupcakes following (baked by the bride's friend, Abby Fong). Guests glued and signed their Polaroid selfies into a scrapbook, and sweet engagement photos of the couple (from Small Woods) were also on display around the room!
Ktown Cakery delivered a show stopping, red velvet, two-tiered cake absolutely IDENTICAL to Rachel's Pinterest inspiration!
It was topped off with a variety of berries and macaroons!
And, just exquisite as can be!
The evening ended with EVERYONE out on the dance floor "having the time of [their] li[ves] and we owe it all to.....
Buzz from AssassinEntertainment! He sure played some good tunes.
AND he was even nice enough to swing me around the dance floor! 💃🕺
All photos are courtesy of Brooke Butterfield Anderson unless otherwise noted. 📸